Sunday, April 25, 2010

Instead of trading up in the 3rd round in the 2010 NFL Draft the Packers COULD HAVE...

I hate to question Ted Thompson trading up since he usually incessantly trades back, especially since according to the NFL draft-pick value chart the Packers got the better end of the deal (Packers traded pick #86 (worth 160 points) and pick #122 (worth 50 points) for a total of 210 points to the Philadelphia Eagles for pick #71 worth 235 points) BUT there are a number of cominations of players I would rather have gotten instead of just getting Morgan Burnett (S, Georgia Tech).

Yes, the Packers need quality over quantity and it will be good to have Burnett push Bigby for the starting safety spot opposite Nick Collins but there were tons of safeties available later in the draft, like another draft crush of mine Myron Rolle. Keep all of that in mind when looking at the following tandems instead of just Burnett:

Navorro Bowman (OLB, Penn State) went #91 to the San Francisco 49ers and Jason Fox (OT, Miami) went #128 to the Detroit Lions. Under this scenario, the Packers would have gotten quality depth at two positions of need: outside linebacker and offensive tackle. I know this is easier to do looking backwards but even Ted Thompson would have admit behind closed doors he would rather have Bowman and Fox instead of just Burnett.

Everson Griffen (DE, USC) went #100 to the Minnesota Vikings and O'Brien Schofield (OLB, Wisconsin) went #130 to the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, Griffen takes plays off and Schofield might not play this season because of a knee injury but both guys are "first round talent" available in the 3rd and 4th round respectively. The Packers do not have a ton of immediate needs and the chance to add two talented players in the middle of draft looks much more enticing to me then getting just Burnett.

Bruce Campbell (OT, Maryland) went #106 to the Oakland Raiders and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (CB, IUPUI) went #136 to the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers could have addressed two HUGE needs: depth at offensive tackle and return specialist. Campbell stood out at the combine as a physical specimen. The Packers have been burned in the past by passing on physical specimens out of Maryland...remember the Packers choose A.J. Hawk one spot ahead of Vernon Davis in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...oh dang. In terms of adding a fast return specialist, it was a no brainer to add a guy like Owusu-Ansah. Again, I would much rather have Campbell and Owusu-Ansah instead of Burnett.